If you wish to store your motorcycle for a longer period of time you need motorcycle battery tenders. A battery tender is an essential device that plugs into a standard AC wall outlet and transfers power to the motorcycle’s battery (12V or 6V) via amperage to keep it charged.
Motorcycle battery tenders do not get weak from use. However, batteries do. On average, a motorcycle battery should last for 48 months. Lack of maintenance on the other hand could cause the battery to go bad faster.
Battery tenders help extend life of your battery all year long. A good battery tender has an inbuilt smart technology that detects when the battery is fully charged and shuts down automatically.
What do battery tenders do?
Battery tenders play a big part in ensuring batteries remain operational over long periods of motorcycle inactivity. They are designed to fully charge the battery and maintain them at recommended storage voltage. This also protects the battery from potential damage caused by trickle chargers.
Battery tender chargers therefore are valuable to anyone living in long, cold winters or to a person who leaves their motorcycle unattended for two weeks or longer.
Characteristics of battery tender battery chargers
They are fully automatic: Battery tenders are designed to automatically switch off immediately a regular charge cycle is attained. The switching off eliminates the need to keep checking on the condition of the battery.
Full output power at low AC Line conditions: Except for the tenders with an output current of 2 amps or less, battery tenders deliver full output power with input AC line voltage as low as 90 VAC.
Zero to minimal current draw from batteries: Most battery tenders will draw zero current from the battery when AAC power is disconnected.
Battery tender chargers offer some of the highest charging power density
Visual indication of charge progress: Battery tenders are fitted with colored lights which indicate the charging progress.
Battery maintainer versus battery tender
Battery maintainer and battery tender perform the same task of bringing your motorcycle to full charge and maintaining it at recommended levels. However, they should not be confused with standard battery chargers.
Ordinary battery chargers simply send a constant charge to your motorcycle battery regardless of whether the battery needs to continue charging or not. A battery tender is able to perform many more duties that a standard charger cannot perform. Battery tender helps prevent the motorcycle battery from overcharging and hence protecting it from potential damage. Battery tenders also have the ability to monitor the rate at which a battery charges and this helps prevent damage caused through fast charge rates.
How to buy the best battery maintainer for your motorcycle battery
Choosing the right battery tender for your motorcycle battery can be a tough task given the many options we have in the market. The following factors will therefore help you make the best choice:
Charging modes
If a standard charger came with multiple charging modes, probably you wouldn’t see the need for battery tenders. The ideal battery tender should therefore come with trickle charge mode that would help reduce amount of power supplied to your motorcycle battery once it is fully charged.
The device should also be able to shut down charging for some time and be able to maintain its optimal levels through the winter season.
Compatibility
The kind of compatibility to look for should be in terms of amperage and voltage. The voltage of the device you purchase should match that of your motorcycle battery. For instance, a 6 volts battery tender will work with a 6Volts battery and 12 volts battery tender with 12 volts battery. If you are looking for flexibility therefore, consider models that work with both 6 Volts and 12 Volts batteries.
On the other hand, ensure that the charger’s amperage rating matches the amount of power your motorcycle battery needs to be supplied with.
Ease of use
You’ll definitely love a battery tender that is quite easy to connect to your battery. The main focus therefore should be on how the battery tender is designed to connect to your battery terminals. Consider also a tender that comes with a cord, long enough to make it easy to use with your battery.
Safety features
When charging your battery, safety is paramount. Look for a battery tender that comes with safety features. Consider battery tender models with spark-proof connectors, reverse polarity protection, short circuit protection and overcharging protection.
To help ensure that you are using the right charge settings for your specific battery, consider a device with automatic voltage detection feature.
Versatility
Consider a battery tender that works with different types of batteries. This can be helpful especially if you also own a car, a tractor, watercraft or a boat.
LCD/Indicators
Indicator lights help you know the charging status of your battery. There are models which come with LCD screens that will give you more than just charge status information.
Connectors
Availability of connectors is a point to consider when looking to purchase a motorcycle battery maintainer. If the battery charger is not compatible with the motorcycle battery, it might be difficult to attain excellent services. Be keen on how the maintainer clips onto your battery, especially when there are different types of terminals. Some battery maintainers come with shorter connection cords and in this case you may have to deal with issues such as availability of outlet options.
Types of motorcycle battery maintainers
Battery tender junior automatic battery charger
Battery Tender Junior Automatic battery charger (check on Amazon) is highly recommended as the overall best charger. The system is fully automatic and this makes it easy to use by everybody in any location. The device also features a compact and light weight design, with LED systems that dispel solid –state colors.
It has a spark proof design with a complete 4 step charging program, 12 foot output cord and comes with a five year warranty. Battery Tender Junior Automatic battery maintainer is affordable and suitable for use with lead acid or sealed maintenance batteries.
Pros
- Automatically turns off reducing harm to the motorcycle system as a result of overcharging
- Solid build
- In- built safety timer
Cons
- No on cover controls
Noco Genius G110
The Noco Genius G110 (Amazon) is also a smart battery maintainer that is ideal for charging smaller capacity batteries on motorcycles, scooter, ATVs, Watercraft and power wheels of up to 40 ampere –hours. It features 4- in charge modes that enable it to charge both 6 V and 12 V batteries for all models, safely and adequately. The feature also enables the maintainer to charge your battery in cold conditions, as well as repair desulfated cells.
It is versatile, durable, easy to use and safe. It is strongly backed by the brand’s five year warranty with an endless supply of accessories for better operation.
Pros
- Compact for easy storage and movement
- The clamps feature inbuilt eyelets
- Precise diagnostics of the power bank
Cons
- It has a short power cord and this limits the space of use
Foval Automatic Motorcycle Battery Maintainer
The Foval Automatic Motorcycle Battery Maintainer (Amazon) is also a good option as it is well put together with precision to offer optimum performance. It is smart and features spark proof system, with a lead connection that comes with 8 foot output cord. It is smaller in size making it easy to carry and store wherever without worrying about space. It is versatile, and it adapts to many motorcycles, ATVs and cars.
Its versatility is complemented with its complete four step charging program: initializing, bulk charge, absorption and float modes. The system makes use of intuitive LED technologies, which allows you to track the unit’s health and charging feedback. It comes with a two year warranty.
Pros
- A fast grip connection is easy to unplug
- A three color LED indicator signals the level of power bank
- Direct outlet connection
Cons
- Must be treated with caution
- The alligator clamps are not fully insulated
Black & Decker BM3B
Black & Decker BM3B (check price on Amazon) is the battery charger and maintainer to go for especially if you are working on a tight budget. Its incredibly versatile features will help you keep your motorcycle battery in top conditions during the offseason. It maintains both 6 V and 12 V batteries, and can also work with different types of batteries such as the lead acid batteries, AGM and GEL models.
The battery charger and maintainer will not only work for your motorcycle, but also for RVs, ATVs, specialty vehicles, marine deep cycle batteries, lawn mowers, snow mobiles and personal Watercrafts. The device is easy to operate as all you do is simply slide the selector switch to 6V or 12 V depending on the battery you are charging.
The battery clips and O ring terminals make it easier to connect this charger. In addition, it has convenient indicators to prompt you in the event of wrong connection, charging and fully charged statuses. The charger is designed to automatically stop the charging process when the battery is fully charged or is topped off. It then switches to the float mode monitoring and this helps maintain this charge for as long as you want.
The battery comes with ETL certification for ultimate safety and performance. It has inbult protection against reverse polarity, overcharging and short circuit. Its housing is super tough and this helps prevent damages to the device during accidental drops.
Pros
- The LED read out is easy to understand
- Its compact size allows for convenient usage
- Compared to other models with smaller input, this model charges 12V battery faster.
Cons
- Not ideal for experienced users
Motopower MP00205A
It is a viable and affordable 12V battery maintainer. Check the Motopower on Amazon. It is a great model for charging all types of 12 V batteries for motorcycles, cars and much more. It is 100% automatic and it needs no supervision during the charging process. Once it is connected it will safely charge your battery as you focus on other things.
With the use of an incorporated smart microprocessor program, the device will monitor your battery charging process throughout and only stops when the battery is fully charged. Motopower MP00205A offers multi-level protection against hazards, therefore no need to worry about wrong connections, short circuits, overheating or overcharging.
Pros
- Charges 12 V batteries faster compared to other devices.
- Its connection to the charger is straightforward
Cons
- Perfect for novices
- Lack of control over the charging process
Schumacher SEM-1562A-CA
Schumacher SEM -1562A-CA is also a versatile motorcycle battery maintainer which works with both 6V and 12 V batteries. It is automatic and comes with a handy quick-connect power to help you attack the clamps/ ring connectors into place faster and with much ease. It is also easy to disconnect.
Schumacher SEM -1562A-CA is micro-processor controlled and prides inability to automatically detect voltage, whereby it will prompt you whether the connected battery is 6V or 12 V and this eliminates the possibility of damaging your battery as a result of wrong charge settings.
Once the battery voltage has been determined, the device with its multi –phase charging program kicks off the charging process until its recommended levels are reached. It then transitions to maintenance mode to help ensure that your motorcycle battery level stays exactly where is should be. The maintainer is backed up with a two year manufacture limited warranty and this means you can get a replacement or repair for any defects.
Pros
- It comes with a 100 amp jump starter feature which is great for emergencies
- It has a reverse hook up protection which is excellent for amateurs
- The compact size of Schumacher SEM -1562A-CA makes it easier to store
Cons
- Small prints make it difficult to read notifications
Benefits of Motorcycle Battery Maintainers
- Motorcycle battery maintainers keep your battery healthy for a long time. This is made possible by cutting off energy as soon as your battery is fully charged.
- Motorcycle battery maintainers reduce the risk of decreased power output and monitors temperatures.
- The use of motorcycle maintainer helps you save money, which you would have spent on constant battery replacements.
